Arizona Football: Which Running Backs will have Biggest Impact?

The 2018 Arizona Football Season is officially underway, and as the Wildcats answer questions to a number of positions we look at the running backs!

Arizona Football is here, and we’re all for it! As the coaches disect and analyze their roster just in time for the season, we do our best to breakdown the roster as well.

We did our best to breakdown the quarterback position as much as we could, and only theorize who could possibly be the back-up to Khalil Tate. Now it’s our turn to look at the running backs!

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Last season, the Wildcats were quite productive in their rushing attack. However, a change to the coaching staff and offensive could re-orient that a bit.

While I imagine Tate will still have a significant role there, I do think you could see a bit more focus to the passing game. Does that mean the running backs will fall by the wayside? No, but perhaps the offense may be a bit more balanced in its attack.

So let’s take a look!

Gone are Nick Wilson and Zach Green from last season, however, returning are J.J. Taylor and Branden Leon. Additionally, the Wildcats will likely see increased roles as well as major contributions from sophomores Gary Brightwell and Nathan Tilford.

Plus, former safety Anthony Mariscal moved to running back, and freshman Darrius Smith also joins the team, so the depth is far from bleak.

So what can we expect this season from the backfield? Well, we can at least agree in assuming Taylor will have the biggest role for the Wildcats in the backfield. The redshirt sophomore is now up to a sturdy 185-pounds and after a very strong redshirt freshman season, him being the No. 1 guy is good for Arizona, and dangerous for any opponent.

He is strong, quick, elusive and incredibly tough to bring down. He dazzled us in 2016 before going down to injury and redshirting for the rest of the year. Taylor just brings an explosive element to the Arizona offense, and on any given play, he can easily turn a small play into a big one!

But who will likely become Arizona’s other key contributors in the backfield?

Well, Tilford would seemingly be the logical choice. At 6-feet-2-inches and 202-pounds, he certainly looks the part, plus he saw limited action last season, mostly on special teams.

A standout at Colony High School in Southern California, Tilford was also one of the highest-rated recruits signed by Rich Rodriguez during his tenure.

The talent and athleticism is there, but so far in camp, offensive coordinator Noel Mazzone feels he has a bit further to go. Perhaps for Tilford, more reps and in-game action will solve that.

In the spring, I thought he performed quite well, carrying the ball 17 times for 91 yards and two touchdowns, however, with a new staff he has to leave no doubts.

As for a guy like Brightwell, he comes as a bit of a surprise. He was a late addition in the class of 2017, and didn’t have a ton of hype surrounding him, but from his film, Brightwell was a versatile athlete in high school, and the previous staff thought so highly of him, he switched to receiver to see the field earlier.

In 2017, he saw limited action, mainly on special teams, and after a full off-season, he’s poised to see an increased role. So far this fall camp, he’s been drawing high praise from Mazzone.

Perhaps at this point, he may have the slight nod over Tilford, but in my opinion, that’s not thing to be worried about. The more productive backs Arizona has, the better off we are! Plus, good competition breeds good football players.

At Zona Zealots, we are excited as the Arizona Football season draws closer and closer! We can’t wait to see how these running backs perform! Bear Down, Arizona!